Acid Horizon "What's Wrong With Extinction?" with Claire Colebrook
In this captivating discussion, Claire Colebrook, a Professor of English and Theory at the University of Sydney, delves into the philosophical nuances of extinction. She challenges anthropocentric views, urging listeners to reconsider extinction beyond mere human survival. The conversation weaves through existential themes, exploring the implications of identity in Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' and the interconnectedness of life and death. Colebrook also addresses the evolving boundaries of literature, questioning how new forms can reshape our understanding of existence.
47:41
What's Wrong with Extinction?
- Extinction is inevitable and natural.
- The problem with extinction depends on what is being extinguished.
Humans and Extinction
- Humans are products of extinction, emerging after prior mass extinctions.
- Extinction and climate change are integral to human existence.
The Emergence of 'Life'
- The concept of life, as distinct from mere existence, emerged after the 18th century.
- This shift coincided with the emergence of the human as a process, not just a form.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Philosophy of Extinction
02:20 • 17min
Existence, Death, and Creation
19:26 • 8min
The Creator and the Creature: Themes of Identity in Frankenstein
27:53 • 10min
Confronting Extinction and Legacy
37:27 • 9min
Rethinking the Boundaries of Literature and Existence
46:02 • 2min
#4953
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
The order of things
Michel Foucault
In 'The Order of Things,' Michel Foucault examines the historical development of the human sciences, including psychology, sociology, anthropology, and linguistics.
He introduces the concept of 'episteme,' which refers to the underlying structure of thought that defines what is considered true and acceptable in a given historical period.
Foucault analyzes how these epistemes change over time, particularly from the Classical Age to Modernity, and how they influence the fields of language, biology, and economics.
The book is known for its complex and detailed analysis, including a forensic examination of Diego Velázquez's painting 'Las Meninas' to illustrate the structural parallels in perception and representation.
#8289
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Tom Jones
Henry Fielding
#62150
Hegel's Phenomenology
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit is a complex philosophical work that traces the development of consciousness through various stages, culminating in absolute knowledge.
#171
• Mentioned in 81 episodes
The Iliad
Homer
The Iliad is an epic poem attributed to Homer, set during the Trojan War. It begins in the ninth year of the war, where a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles sets off a chain of events.
The poem explores themes of heroism, honor, and fate as it describes the battles and interactions between Greek warriors like Achilles, Diomedes, and Odysseus, and Trojan warriors like Hector and Paris.
The story is interspersed with divine interventions from Greek gods and goddesses, influencing the outcome of the war.
The poem culminates with Achilles' reconciliation with Agamemnon and his subsequent rage against the Trojans, leading to the death of Hector and the eventual funeral rites for Patroclus and Hector.
#82
• Mentioned in 127 episodes
The Odyssey
Homer
The Odyssey, attributed to Homer, is an ancient Greek epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. The poem explores Odysseus's encounters with various mythical creatures, divine interventions, and natural challenges.
Upon his return to Ithaca, he must confront the suitors who have been vying for his wife Penelope's hand in marriage.
With the help of his son Telemachus and the goddess Athena, Odysseus devises a plan to defeat the suitors and reclaim his throne.
The poem is a reflection on human nature, loyalty, and the consequences of one's actions, and it remains a crucial component of ancient Greek literature and Western cultural heritage.
#132
• Mentioned in 97 episodes
Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
Written in epistolary form, the novel tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant and ambitious scientist who, driven by Enlightenment-era ideas of progress and science, creates a living being from dead body parts.
However, upon seeing the creature come to life, Frankenstein is horrified and abandons it.
The creature, shunned by society due to its appearance, seeks revenge against its creator, leading to a series of tragic events.
The novel explores themes of guilt, loss, and the emotional and moral consequences of scientific hubris, blending elements of Gothic and Romantic literature.
#6236
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Y the Last Man
Pia Guerra
Brian K. Vaughan
The series follows Yorick Brown and his monkey Ampersand as they navigate a world where all male mammals have died.
Yorick's mother, a U.S.
Representative, commissions Agent 355 to protect Yorick as they travel to meet Dr. Allison Mann, a geneticist working to discover why Yorick survived and how to save humanity.
The story explores themes of survival, identity, and the future of humanity in a world without men.
#5961
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Of grammatology
Jacques Derrida
In *Of Grammatology*, Jacques Derrida critiques traditional Western philosophy by challenging the binary oppositions and logocentrism that underpin it.
He argues that these oppositions, such as speech vs.
writing, are not fixed but interdependent and can be deconstructed.
Derrida uses the works of Rousseau and Lévi-Strauss to illustrate his points and proposes a new science of writing, or grammatology, which seeks to understand the complex play of signs and meanings.
The book is a seminal work in deconstruction and has had a significant impact on contemporary philosophy, literary theory, and intellectual history.
#197
• Mentioned in 70 episodes
Paradise Lost
John Milton
Published in 1667, 'Paradise Lost' is an epic poem in blank verse that follows the biblical story of the Fall of Man. The poem begins in medias res, detailing the descent of Satan and his followers into Hell after their rebellion against God. It explores two main narrative arcs: one focusing on Satan's actions and the other on Adam and Eve's story in the Garden of Eden.
The poem delves into themes such as free will, obedience, revenge, and pride, and it portrays the complex characters of Satan, Adam, and Eve. Milton's work is known for its rich language, classical structure, and profound theological and philosophical insights.
#240
• Mentioned in 62 episodes
On the Origin of Species
Charles Darwin
Published on November 24, 1859, 'On the Origin of Species' by Charles Darwin is a seminal work in scientific literature.
The book presents a comprehensive theory of evolution, arguing that species evolve over generations through the process of natural selection.
Darwin supported his theory with evidence collected during his voyage on the HMS Beagle, as well as from subsequent research, correspondence, and experimentation.
The book addresses the struggle for existence, the variability of species, and the principle of divergence, explaining how natural selection leads to the adaptation and diversification of life on Earth.
It has been a cornerstone of evolutionary biology and has had significant impacts on both scientific and public discourse.
#3046
• Mentioned in 9 episodes
Nausea
Jean-Paul Sartre
Published in 1938, 'Nausea' is Jean-Paul Sartre's first novel and a seminal work in existentialist literature.
The story follows Antoine Roquentin, a solitary historian living in the fictional town of Bouville, as he experiences intense feelings of nausea and existential crisis.
Through Roquentin's diary entries, Sartre delves into themes such as the contingency of existence, the distinction between 'being-in-itself' and 'being-for-itself,' and the idea that 'existence precedes essence.
' Roquentin's struggles with his research on the Marquis de Rollebon and his interactions with people around him highlight the absurdity and randomness of the world, leading him to confront the bare existence of things and the meaninglessness of human existence.
The novel is a profound exploration of existential angst, freedom, and responsibility.
#261
• Mentioned in 59 episodes
Ulysses
James Joyce
Ulysses is a groundbreaking and complex modernist novel that chronicles the experiences of three Dubliners over a single day.
The novel is loosely based on Homer's epic poem 'The Odyssey', with Leopold Bloom paralleling Odysseus, Stephen Dedalus paralleling Telemachus, and Molly Bloom paralleling Penelope.
It explores themes such as antisemitism, human sexuality, British rule in Ireland, Catholicism, and Irish nationalism.
The novel is known for its innovative use of language and narrative techniques, including stream-of-consciousness and multiple literary styles.
It captures the essence of early 20th-century Dublin, providing a detailed snapshot of the city's social, political, and cultural landscape.
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This special episode features a replay of Claire Colebrook’s presentation of her paper What’s Wrong with Extinction?, delivered at the Time, Waste, Extinction workshop held at Penn State University in September 2024. Acid Horizon was proud to collaborate with this event, bringing together leading thinkers to interrogate the cultural, ethical, and political frameworks through which extinction is commonly understood.
In this talk, Claire challenges anthropocentric assumptions underlying ecological and ethical debates, urging a reconsideration of extinction beyond human survival and crisis narratives. The presentation offers a compelling exploration of extinction’s implications for life, ethics, and political imagination.
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